Christine Ballengee-Morris has been nominated to be the interim director of the new Multicultural Center. The Multicultural Center is intended to promote greater cultural awareness and understanding at Ohio State.

The position reports to both the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Affairs.

President William “Brit” Kirwan, Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Hall, and Provost Ed Ray, recommended Morris for the position. Kirwan will ask the university’s Board of Trustees to approve the appointment at its meeting on Oct. 5.

“I am delighted she has accepted the nomination, she has a good understanding of student affairs,” Hall said. “Morris has the experience, vision, and leadership skills necessary to successfully establish the Multicultural Center.”

Morris and other highly finalists for the position went through a series of interviews with students, staff and faculty.

“They agreed that Morris was the right person for the job,” Ray said.

“Morris brings many strong attributes to the position of interim to the position,” he said. “She is a warm and friendly person who I believe will be successful in bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to build the kind of diverse community we seek through the help of Multicultural Center.”

Ray believes that Morris, as a person of Cherokee and Appalachian heritage, has personal awareness of needs for under-represented groups.

“She knows the value of education and bringing people together,” Ray said.

Hall is optimistic about the center and the services it will provide.

“The center will allow the students, staff and faculty to learn about different cultures and address various cultural issues,” Hall said.

Morris joined Ohio State faculty in 1995. She is an associate professor of art education at the Newark campus of Ohio State. Morris received her doctorate in art education from Pennsylvania State University. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Morris is an active member of the Friends of the Mounds, a group of interested citizens who serve as watchdogs of the ancient Native America Octagon Mound site in Newark, Ohio.

Internationally, Morris is a scholar in residence in Temuco, Chile, sponsored by the Ohio Arts council and the Chilean government. She has also worked with Guarani Tribe in Brazil since 1994. Morris was invited to share her research with Aboriginal Cultural Centers in Tasmania, Australia.

Morris’ appointment was effective Sept. 15 and will run until June 30, 2003.

The Multicultural Center will be located on the fourth floor of the Ohio Union. The grand opening will be Oct. 3.